Can punch



Jan. v4, 1927. 1,612,910

J. DOWLING cm PUNCH Filed A ril 28, 192s Inventor Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

JOSEPH BOWLING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN PUNCH.

Application filed April 28, 1926. Serial N'o. 105,196.

The present invention relates to improvements in can perforating devices, and has reference more particularly to an implement especially adapted for punching holes the least effort and without strain on the can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a punch which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong, and durable, and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying draw- In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the can punch embodying my invention showing the same in position on the top of a can.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the de vice. j

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure l is a top plan view of the blank from which the base portion of the device is constructed, and

Figure 5 is a similar view of theblank from which the punch carrying member is constructed.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally the blank from which the base plate is constructed, and as is clearly shown in Figure 4, this portion of the punch comprises a circular base plate 2, from the rear side of which extends the elongated strip 3 the portion of the strip adjacent the base plate 2 being relatively wide as indicated at 4. Lateral extensions 5 are formed on the side edges of the widened to be punched in portion 4, and these extensions are adapted to be bent upwardly to provide a pair of upstanding ears, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

These upstanding ears are formed with registering openings such as are shown at 6. A tongue 7 extends from the forward side of the circular base plate 2 and is adapted to be bent downwardly as clearly shown in Figure 1 for the purpose also to be hereinafter more fully described. An enlarged opening 8 is formed in the circular base plate 2 adjacent the tongue 7.

The punch embodying my invention further comprises the blanks designated generally by the numeral 9 with reference more particularly to Figure 5, and this blank includes the substantially circular plate 10 which has extending from the forward side edge thereof thelip 11 which lip is adapted to be bent downwardly and thence rearwardly so as to be disposed below the forward portion of the plate 10 in slightly spaced relation thereto as is clearly shown in Figure 1. This lip 11 is provided with a central opening 12 as is clearly shown in Figure 5, and the purpose of the lip and said opening will be hereinafter more fully described.

A relatively narrow strip 13 extends rearwardly from the base plate 10 at a point diametrically opposite the lip 11, and the pair of laterally disposed ears 14 are formed on the side edges of the rear portion of the strip 13, these ears 14 being adapted to be bent downwardly for disposition between the upturned ears 5. The ears 14 are provided with registering openings 15 which cooperate with the openings 6 formed in the ears 5 to accommodate the pivot member 16 which in the present instance is in the form of a split pin, although it is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to any particular construction of the pivotal member. This construction provides a means whereby the punch carrying member will be pivotally mounted on the base plate, and in order to permit the downward swinging movement of the plate member 10, the lower forward edges or corners of the downwardly disposed ears 14 are curved as illustrated at 17.

The punch or can perforating element 18 extends downwardly through the opening 12 formed in the lip 11 and the lower pointthe inwardly disposed lip 11 so as to prevent the accidental displacement of the punch element from the plate member 10 and to further provide a rigid mounting for the punch member.

The plate member 10 and the punch 18 are normally maintained in a raised position through the medium of the coil spring 20 which encircles the shank portion of the punch element 18 and which is further disposed between the lips 11 and the top face of the base plate 2 in the manner clearly shown in Figure 1. The respective ends of the coil spring may be secured to the lip and base plate in order to hold the spring elements in proper position.

The rear end portion of the strip 8 which extends from the base plate 2 is curved to provide a suitable thumb receiving loop 21 to facilitate the grasping of the implement and holding the same in a proper position on a can top when the device is in use.

In operation the base plate 2 is placed 1 on the top of a can which is to be perforated,

and the tongue 7 which extends downwardly from the forward side edge of the base plate engages the side of the can. Downward pressure is then exerted ontheforward portionof' the plate 10 directly above the punch 18 so that the punch will descend through the opening 8 in the base plate 2, and the pointed end of the punch will pass into and through the can top, thus forming a hole-in the can top. When the pressure is released on the plate 10, the coil spring 20 will return the movable parts to their normal positions and thus an opening will be formed in the can top to permit the contents of the can to be readily poured therefrom.

Should it be necessary to form a ventilating opening in the can top, it is only necessary to move the device around the can to another position so that the punch 18 will form another opening in the top of the can at any desired point, and the device will be operated in the same manner.

It will thus be seenfrom the foregoing "great effort and without causing any strain to be placed on the can.

While I have shown the preferred em bodiment of the invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i A can punch comprising a base plate adapted to lie on a can top, a rim engaging tongue formed on the forward side edge of the base plate, a handle portion extending rearwardly from the opposite side edge of the base plate, said base plate having an opening formed therein adjacent the tongue, another plate member arranged abovevthe base plate in spaced relation thereto and pivotally secured at its rear portion to the adjacent portion of the base plate, a lip formed on the forward edge portion of the pivoted plat-e member, said lip being dis poseddownwardly and thence inwardly in parallel spaced relation with respect to the pivoted plate member, said lip being provided with an opening adapted for registry with the opening in the base plate, a headed punch extending through the opening in said lip, the head of the punch being disposed between the lip and the bottom face of the pivoted plate member, said punch adapted to descend through the hole in the base plate, and into and through the can top, coil springs encircling the punch and disposed between the lip and the base plate for normally holding the pivoted plate member and the punch carried thereby in a raised position;

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH BOWLING, 

